Sony to introduce weekend specials on JCPK

Sony has lined up a fresh series of 'weekend specials' for Jeeto Chappar Phaad Ke based on diverse themes. The first weekend special 'Hasya Kavi' will be aired on May 19

agencyfaqs!NEW DELHI, May 03Beginning May 19, Jeeto Chappar Phaad Ke (JCPK) will wear a livelier look. Sony Entertainment Television (SET) has lined up a fresh series of 'weekend specials' based on diverse themes. The first weekend special 'Haasya Kavi' will be aired on May 19, which also marks the completion of the 50th episode of JCPK. The other shows slated to make their debut are 'Saas Bahu', 'Aya Sawan Jhuum Ke', 'Dance Masti' and 'celebrity special'. The anchor, of course, remains Govinda.

Rejuvenation of JCPK was overdue. "We have not been doing too well for sometime. Partly it was because JCPK came to be perceived as an all-play-no-sweat game show - a show that squanders money. Therefore, we have decided to upgrade the level of the questions without diluting the predominant element of the show - fun! The dip in the TRPs also indicated that people were getting used to the game. So we decided to rev up JCPK with weekend specials and what better occasion than the golden jubilee celebration of JCPK to air the first weekend special," explains Amla Thomas, senior creative manager, SET.

The weekend specials will be featured only on one of the three days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) JCPK is aired.However Sony has not yet decided on the days on which the weekend specials (barring Haasya Kavi) would be aired. "Friday is a good day, probably since the TRPs on Fridays are usually better than Saturdays and Sundays," says Rekha Nigam, senior vice- president, programming and production, SET.

In all probability the SET team on JCPK is hoping that the weekend specials will improve the TRPs. "The weekend specials are packed with fun; the themes of these specials are very interesting. For Haasya Kavi we have lined up the best of the Haasya Kavis of the country, like Shail Chaturvedi and Surendra Sharma. The show begins with the poets reciting a poem on JCPK. And during the question-answer session the poets take on each other. This makes the show really hilarious. The Saas Bahu special too is bound to make an impression. The way it works is that if a daughter-in-law makes it to the show then her mother-in-law gets to participate with her. We have spiced up the show with ad-lipped verbal banter between the Saas and Bahu," elaborates Nigam.

The highlight of the weekend specials is the Raveena Tandon show. "The format of this show is a little different. Besides film actress Raveena, there would be eleven male participants in the show and, in the buzzer round, they will be asked one question on Raveena. Whoever gives the right answer gets the prize. And whatever amount Raveena wins would be donated to a charitable institution. Sony is trying to rope in Hrithik Roshan and Priety Zinta for future celeb shows. Aya Sawan Jhuum Ke will herald the coming of the first monsoon shower, whereas in Dance Masti, Govinda would shake a leg in the Dharmender- Shammi Kapoor style," adds Thomas.

Is the new string of weekend specials inspired by KBC's 'couple special', junior KBC and the 'defence personnel special'? To this, Thomas says, "The new programme strategy is not at all inspired by KBC. JCPK is not pitched against KBC. KBC targets a very niche audience - SEC A, A+ and A++, and it is completely modelled on Who Wants To Be A Millionnaire. Whereas JCPK is a fun-filled show for the masses. It captures the Indian soul. Even a panwala can relate to the show."

Will all these work for JCPK - whose TRP is hovering at 2 currently (according to emediaplan records)? "Well all said and done there is eventually space for one game show in the market," believes Santosh Desai, executive vice- president, McCann Erickson.